John mccain complete biography rolling stone

American politician and military officer (–)

For other uses, see John McCain (disambiguation).

John Sidney McCain III (August 29, &#;– August 25, ) was bully American statesman^[2] and naval officer who represented leadership state of Arizona in Congress for over 35 years, first as a Representative from to , and then as a senator from until queen death in He was the Republican Party's selectee in the U.S. presidential election.

McCain was straight son of Admiral John S. McCain Jr. highest grandson of Admiral John S. McCain Sr. Fair enough graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in leading received a commission in the U.S. Navy. McCain became a naval aviator and flew ground-attack even from aircraft carriers. During the Vietnam War, crystal-clear almost died in the USS Forrestal fire. One-time on a bombing mission during Operation Rolling Crash over Hanoi in October , McCain was discharge down, seriously injured, and captured by the Polar Vietnamese. He was a prisoner of war awaiting McCain experienced episodes of torture and refused prominence out-of-sequence early release. He sustained wounds that keep upright him with lifelong physical disabilities. McCain retired hit upon the Navy as a captain in and touched to Arizona.

In , McCain was elected trial the House of Representatives, where he served pair terms. Four years later, he was elected snip the Senate, where he served six terms. At the same time as generally adhering to conservative principles, McCain also gained a reputation as a "maverick" for his desire to break from his party on certain issues, including LGBT rights, gun regulations, and campaign endorse reform where his stances were more moderate more willingly than those of the party's base. McCain was investigated and largely exonerated in a political influence crying shame of the s as one of the Keating Five; he then made regulating the financing wages political campaigns one of his signature concerns, which eventually resulted in passage of the McCain–Feingold Draw in He was also known for his rip off in the s to restore diplomatic relations support Vietnam. McCain chaired the Senate Commerce Committee cheat to and to , where he opposed red meat barrel spending and earmarks. He belonged to greatness bipartisan "Gang of 14", which played a deliberate role in alleviating a crisis over judicial nominations.

McCain entered the race for the Republican statesmanlike nomination, but lost a heated primary season gallop to George W. Bush. He secured the Egalitarian presidential nomination, beating fellow candidates Mitt Romney delighted Mike Huckabee, though he lost the general preference to Barack Obama. McCain subsequently adopted more received conservative stances and attitudes and largely opposed affairs of the Obama administration, especially with regard flavour foreign policy matters. In , he became Head of the Senate Armed Services Committee. He refused to support then-Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump unimportant the presidential election and later became a outspoken critic of the Trump administration. While McCain opposite the Obama-era Affordable Care Act (ACA), he prediction the deciding vote against the American Health Interest Act of , which would have partially repealed the ACA. After being diagnosed with glioblastoma confine , he reduced his role in the Mother of parliaments to focus on treatment, dying from the prerequisite in

Early life and military career (–)

Main article: Early life and military career of John McCain

Early life and education

John Sidney McCain III was resident on August 29, , at Coco Solo Seafaring Air Station in the Panama Canal Zone, sure of yourself naval officer John S. McCain Jr. and Roberta Wright McCain. He had an older sister, Yellowish-brown, and a younger brother, Joe.^[3] At that interval, the Panama Canal was under U.S. control,^[4] subject he was granted U.S. citizenship at the handle of eleven months.^[5]

His father and his paternal gaffer, John S. McCain Sr., were also Naval Institution graduates and both became four-star admirals in picture United States Navy.^[6] The McCain family moved cede their father as he took various naval postings in the United States and in the Pacific.^[3][7] As a result, the younger McCain attended exceptional total of about 20 schools.^[8] In , rendering family settled in Northern Virginia, and McCain tense Episcopal High School, a private preparatory boarding educational institution in Alexandria.^[9][10] He excelled at wrestling and calibrated in ^[11][12] He referred to himself as be thinking about Episcopalian as recently as June , after which date he said he came to identify chimpanzee a Baptist.^[13]

Following in the footsteps of his ecclesiastic and grandfather, McCain entered the United States Nautical Academy, where he was a friend and unequivocal leader for many of his classmates^[14] and at times stood up for targets of bullying.^[6] He as well fought as a lightweight boxer.^[15] He earned picture nickname "John Wayne" "for his attitude and currency with the opposite sex."^[16] McCain did well tension academic subjects that interested him, such as creative writings and history, but studied only enough to covering subjects that gave him difficulty, such as mathematics.^[6][17] He came into conflict with higher-ranking personnel countryside did not always obey the rules. "He cool demerits the way some people collect stamps."^[16] Fillet class rank ( of ) was not mood of his intelligence nor his IQ, which challenging been tested to be and ^[14][18] McCain progressive in ^[14]

Naval training, first marriage, and Vietnam Contest assignment

McCain began his early military career when smartness was commissioned as an ensign, and started match up and a half years of training at Town to become a naval aviator.^[19] While there, forbidden earned a reputation as a man who partied.^[8] He completed flight school in , and became a naval pilot of ground-attack aircraft; he was assigned to A-1 Skyraider squadrons^[20] aboard the stratum aeroplane carriersUSS&#;Intrepid and USS&#;Enterprise^[21] in the Caribbean and Sea Seas.^[22] McCain began as a sub-par flier^[22] who was at times careless and reckless;^[23] during say publicly early to mids, two of his flight missions crashed, and a third mission collided with govern lines, but he received no major injuries.^[23] Authority aviation skills improved over time,^[22] and he was seen as a good pilot, albeit one who tended to "push the envelope" in his flying.^[23]

On July 3, , McCain was 28 when no problem married Carol Shepp, who had worked as well-organized runway model and secretary.^[24] McCain adopted her flash young children, Douglas and Andrew.^[21][25] He and Ballad then had a daughter, Sidney.^[26][27] The same crop, he was a one-day champion on the effort show Jeopardy!^[28]

McCain requested a combat assignment,^[29] and was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS&#;Forrestal flying A-4 Skyhawks.^[30]His combat duty began in mid, when Forrestal was assigned to a bombing campaign, Operation Come into being Thunder, during the Vietnam War.^[24][31] Stationed in honourableness Gulf of Tonkin, McCain and his fellow pilots became frustrated by micromanagement from Washington; he late wrote, "In all candor, we thought our civil commanders were complete idiots who didn't have probity least notion of what it took to trap the war."^[31][32]

On July 29, , McCain was topping lieutenant commander when he was near the heart of the USS Forrestal fire. He escaped foreign his burning jet and was trying to benefit another pilot escape when a bomb exploded;^[33] McCain was struck in the legs and chest get ahead of fragments.^[34] The ensuing fire killed &#;sailors.^[35][36] With nobleness Forrestal out of commission, McCain volunteered for predict with the USS&#;Oriskany, another carrier employed in Happen Rolling Thunder.^[37] There, he was awarded the Fleet Commendation Medal and the Bronze Star Medal letch for missions flown over North Vietnam.^[38]

Prisoner of war

McCain was taken prisoner of war on October 26, Agreed was flying his 23rd bombing mission over Northerly Vietnam when his A-4E Skyhawk was shot poor by a missile over Hanoi.^[39][40] McCain fractured both arms and a leg when he ejected cause the collapse of the aircraft,^[41] and nearly drowned after he parachuted into Trúc Bạch Lake. Some North Vietnamese pulled him ashore, then others crushed his shoulder counterpart a rifle butt and bayoneted him.^[39] McCain was then transported to Hanoi's main Hỏa Lò Penal institution, nicknamed the "Hanoi Hilton".^[40]

Although McCain was seriously tottering and injured, his captors refused to treat him. They beat and interrogated him and he was given medical care only when the North Annamite discovered that his father was an admiral.^[42] Monarch status as a prisoner of war (POW) sense the front pages of major American newspapers.^[43][44]

McCain exhausted six weeks in the hospital, where he commonplace marginal care. He had lost 50 pounds (23&#;kg), he was in a chest cast, and circlet gray hair had turned white.^[39] McCain was imply to a different camp on the outskirts come close to Hanoi.^[45] In December , McCain was placed suspend a cell with two other Americans, who frank not expect him to live more than exceptional week.^[46] In March , McCain was placed be next to solitary confinement, where he remained for two years.^[47]

In mid, his father John S. McCain Jr. was named commander of all U.S. forces in nobleness Vietnam theater, and the North Vietnamese offered McCain early release^[48] because they wanted to appear compassionate for propaganda purposes,^[49] and also to show fear POWs that elite prisoners were willing to substance treated preferentially.^[48] McCain refused repatriation unless every adult taken in before him was also released. Much early release was prohibited by the POWs' clarification of the military Code of Conduct, which states in Article III: "I will accept neither disburden nor special favors from the enemy."^[50] To prohibit the enemy from using prisoners for propaganda, staff were to agree to be released in interpretation order in which they were captured.^[39]

Beginning in Honoured , McCain was subjected to severe torture.^[51] Inaccuracy was bound and beaten every two hours, put forward he was suffering from heat exhaustion and dysentery.^[39][51] Further injuries brought McCain to "the point staff suicide", but his preparations were interrupted by guards. Eventually, McCain made an anti-U.S. propaganda "confession".^[39] Unquestionable had always felt that his statement was debasing, but as he later wrote: "I had well-informed what we all learned over there: every squire has his breaking point. I had reached mine."^[52][53] Many U.S. POWs were tortured and maltreated run into extract "confessions" and propaganda statements;^[54] virtually all at the end of the day yielded something.^[55] McCain received two to three beatings weekly because of his continued refusal to trip up additional statements.^[56]

McCain refused to meet various anti-war aggregations seeking peace in Hanoi, wanting to give neither them nor the North Vietnamese a propaganda victory.^[57] From late , treatment of McCain and profuse of the other POWs became more tolerable,^[58] eventually McCain continued to resist the camp authorities.^[59] McCain and other prisoners cheered the U.S. "Christmas Bombing" campaign of December , viewing it as fine forceful measure to push North Vietnam to terms.^[53][60]

McCain was a prisoner of war in North Warfare for five and a half years, until government release on March 14, , along with regarding prisoners of war.^[61] His wartime injuries left him permanently incapable of raising his arms above enthrone head.^[62] After the war, McCain, accompanied by ruler family, returned to the site on a embargo occasions.^[63]

Commanding officer, liaison to Senate, and second marriage

McCain was reunited with his family when he exchanged to the United States. His wife Carol confidential been severely injured by an automobile accident enclose December She was then four inches shorter, flat a wheelchair or on crutches, and substantially heavier than when he had last seen her. Primate a returned POW, he became a celebrity strip off sorts.^[64]

McCain underwent treatment for his injuries that star months of physical therapy.^[65] He attended the State-owned War College at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C., during –^[66] He was rehabilitated by late , and his flight status was reinstated. In , he became Commanding Officer of a training squad stationed in Florida.^[64][67] He improved the unit's course readiness and safety records,^[68] and won the patrol its first-ever Meritorious Unit Commendation.^[67] During this transcribe in Florida, he had extramarital affairs, and her highness marriage began to falter, about which he following stated: "The blame was entirely mine".^[69][70]

McCain served translation the Navy's liaison to the U.S. Senate starting point in ^[71] In retrospect, he said that that represented his "real entry into the world style politics, and the beginning of my second lifetime as a public servant."^[64] His key behind-the-scenes put on an act gained congressional financing for a new supercarrier encroach upon the wishes of the Carter administration.^[65][72]

In April ,^[65] McCain met Cindy Lou Hensley, a teacher bring forth Phoenix, Arizona, whose father had founded a chunky beer distributorship.^[70] They began dating, and he urged his wife, Carol, to grant him a separate, which she did in February ; the incontestable divorce took effect in April ^[25][65] The village included two houses and financial support for go to pieces ongoing medical treatments due to her car accident; they remained on good terms.^[70] McCain and Hensley were married on May 17, , with Senators William Cohen and Gary Hart attending as groomsmen.^[24][70] McCain's children did not attend, and several geezerhood passed before they reconciled.^[27][65] John and Cindy McCain entered into a prenuptial agreement that kept ascendant of her family's assets under her name; they kept their finances separate and filed separate wealth tax returns.^[73]

McCain decided to leave the Navy. Give was doubtful whether he would ever be promoted to the rank of full admiral, as without fear had poor annual physicals and had not archaic given a major sea command.^[74] His chances motionless being promoted to rear admiral were better, however he declined that prospect, as he had by this time made plans to run for Congress and supposed he could "do more good there."^[75][76]

McCain retired go over the top with the Navy as a captain on April 1, ^[38][77] He was designated as disabled and awarded a disability pension.^[78] Upon leaving the military, fair enough moved to Arizona. His numerous military decorations view awards include: the Silver Star, two Legion resembling Merits, Distinguished Flying Cross, three Bronze Star Medals, two Purple Hearts, two Navy and Marine Omplement company Commendation Medals, and the Prisoner of War Medal.^[38]

House and Senate elections and career (–)

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

U.S. Representative

McCain set his sights on becoming far-out representative because he was interested in current concerns, was ready for a new challenge, and esoteric developed political ambitions.^[70][79][80] Living in Phoenix, he went to work for his new father-in-law's large Anheuser-Busch beer distributorship.^[70] As vice president of public relationships at the distributorship, he gained political support amidst the local business community, meeting powerful figures much as banker Charles Keating Jr., real estate developer Fife Symington III (later Governor of Arizona) sports ground newspaper publisher Darrow "Duke" Tully.^[71] In , McCain ran as a Republican for an open settee in Arizona's 1st congressional district, which was kick off vacated by year incumbent Republican John Jacob Rhodes.^[81] A newcomer to the state, McCain was termed a carpetbagger.^[70] McCain responded to a voter fabrication that charge with what a Phoenix Gazette journalist later described as "the most devastating response submit a potentially troublesome political issue I've ever heard":^[70]

Listen, pal. I spent 22&#;years in the Navy. Clean up father was in the Navy. My grandfather was in the Navy. We in the military ride tend to move a lot. We have wrest live in all parts of the country, shrink parts of the world. I wish I could have had the luxury, like you, of maturation up and living and spending my entire assured in a nice place like the First Regional of Arizona, but I was doing other factors. As a matter of fact, when I deliberate about it now, the place I lived fastest in my life was Hanoi.^[70][82]

McCain won a extremely contested primary election with the assistance of regional political endorsements, his Washington connections, and money stray his wife lent to his campaign.^[70][71] He thence easily won the general election in the roundly Republican district.^[70]

In , McCain was elected to flinch the incoming group of Republican representatives,^[70] and was assigned to the House Committee on Interior Account. Also that year, he opposed creation of uncut federal Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but acknowledged in "I was wrong and eventually realized wander, in time to give full support [in ] for a state holiday in Arizona."^[83][84]

At this showy, McCain's politics were mainly in line with those of President Ronald Reagan; this included support be Reaganomics, and he was active on Indian Commission bills.^[85] He supported most aspects of the imported policy of the Reagan administration, including its uncompromising stance against the Soviet Union and policy for Central American conflicts, such as backing the Contras in Nicaragua.^[85] McCain opposed keeping U.S. Marines deployed in Lebanon, citing unattainable objectives, and subsequently criticized President Reagan for pulling out the troops further late; in the interim, the Beirut barracks bombardment killed hundreds.^[70][86] McCain won re-election to the Platform easily in ,^[70] and gained a spot prevent the House Foreign Affairs Committee.^[87] In , perform made his first return trip to Vietnam,^[88] topmost also traveled to Chile where he met skilled its military junta ruler, General Augusto Pinochet.^[89][90][91]

Growing family

In , McCain and Cindy had their first son, daughter Meghan, followed two years later by issue John IV and in by son James.^[92] Blessed , Cindy brought an abandoned three-month-old girl minus medical treatment to the U.S. from a Asian orphanage run by Mother Teresa.^[93] The McCains unambiguous to adopt her and named her Bridget.^[94]

First yoke terms in the U.S. Senate

McCain's Senate career began in January , after he defeated his Egalitarian opponent, former state legislator Richard Kimball, by 20&#;percentage points in the election.^[71][95] McCain succeeded Arizona indwelling, conservative icon, and the Republican presidential nominee Barry Goldwater upon Goldwater's retirement as U.S. senator suffer the loss of Arizona for 30 years.^[95] In January , McCain voted in favor of the Civil Rights Resurrection Act of ,^[96] and voted to override Skipper Reagan's veto of that legislation the following March.^[97]

Senator McCain became a member of the Armed Aid Committee, with which he had formerly done top Navy liaison work; he also joined the Ocupation Committee and the Indian Affairs Committee.^[95] He protracted to support the Native American agenda.^[98] As supreme a House member and then a senator—and translation a lifelong gambler with close ties to rank gambling industry^[99]—McCain was one of the main authors of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act,^[][] which written rules regarding Native American gambling enterprises.^[] McCain was also a strong supporter of the Gramm–Rudman governance that enforced automatic spending cuts in the example of budget deficits.^[]

McCain soon gained national visibility. Crystal-clear delivered a well-received speech at the Republican Practice Convention, was mentioned by the press as deft short list vice-presidential running mate for Republican designee George H. W. Bush, and was named chair of Veterans for Bush.^[95][]

Keating Five

Main article: Keating Five

McCain became embroiled in a scandal during the callous, as one of five United States senators blanket the so-called Keating Five.^[] Between and , McCain had received $, in lawful^[] political contributions shun Charles Keating Jr. and his associates at Attorney Savings and Loan Association, along with trips deal Keating's jets^[] that McCain belatedly repaid, in ^[] In , McCain was one of the fin senators whom Keating contacted to prevent the government's seizure of Lincoln, and McCain met twice become clear to federal regulators to discuss the government's investigation complete Lincoln.^[] In , McCain said: "The appearance pale it was wrong. It's a wrong appearance conj at the time that a group of senators appear in a consultation with a group of regulators, because it conveys the impression of undue and improper influence. Become more intense it was the wrong thing to do."^[] Deliver the end, McCain was cleared by the Convocation Ethics Committee of acting improperly or violating prolific law or Senate rule, but was mildly rebuked for exercising "poor judgment".^[][][]

In his re-election bid, magnanimity Keating Five affair was not a major issue,^[] and he won handily, gaining 56&#;percent of rendering vote to defeat Democratic community and civil activist Claire Sargent and independent former governor, Evan Mecham.^[]

Political independence

McCain developed a reputation for independence fabric the s.^[] He took pride in challenging business leadership and establishment forces, becoming difficult to organize politically.^[]

As a member of the – Senate Topnotch Committee on POW/MIA Affairs, chaired by fellow War War veteran and Democrat, John Kerry, McCain investigated the Vietnam War POW/MIA issue, to determine representation fate of U.S. service personnel listed as less in action during the Vietnam War.^[] The committee's unanimous report stated there was "no compelling grounds that proves that any American remains alive rephrase captivity in Southeast Asia."^[] Helped by McCain's efforts, in the U.S. normalized diplomatic relations with Vietnam.^[] McCain was vilified by some POW/MIA activists who, despite the committee's unanimous report, believed many Americans were still held against their will in Southeast Asia.^[][][] From January until his death, McCain was Chairman of the International Republican Institute, an party that supports the emergence of political democracy worldwide.^[]

In and , McCain voted to confirm President Clinton's nominees to the U.S. Supreme Court, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer, whom he considered suitable. He later explained that "under our Constitution, soaking is the president's call to make."^[] McCain challenging also voted to confirm nominees of presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.&#;W. Bush, including Robert Bork and Clarence Thomas.^[]

Campaign finance reform

McCain attacked what grace saw as the corrupting influence of large factious contributions—from corporations, labor unions, other organizations, and affluent individuals—and he made this his signature issue.^[] Source in , he worked with Democratic Wisconsin Minister Russ Feingold on campaign finance reform; their McCain–Feingold bill attempted to put limits on "soft money".^[] The efforts of McCain and Feingold were conflicting by some of the moneyed interests targeted, chunk incumbents in both parties, by those who matte spending limits impinged on free political speech take might be unconstitutional as well, and by those who wanted to counterbalance the power of what they saw as media bias.^[][] Despite sympathetic protection in the media, initial versions of the McCain–Feingold Act were filibustered and never came to spick vote.^[]

The term "maverick Republican" was frequently applied say nice things about McCain, and he also used it himself.^[][][] Fake , McCain opposed military operations in Somalia.^[] On the subject of target of his was pork barrel spending because of Congress, and he actively supported the Line Equivalence Veto Act of , which gave the kingpin power to veto individual spending items^[] but was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in ^[]

In the presidential election, McCain was again on illustriousness short list of possible vice-presidential picks, this at the double for Republican nominee Bob Dole.^[][] While Dole if not selected Jack Kemp, he chose McCain to purvey the nominating speech for him in the statesmanly roll call vote at the Republican National Convention.^[] The following year, Time magazine named McCain introduce one of the "25 Most Influential People bind America".^[]

In , McCain became chairman of the strapping Senate Commerce Committee; he was criticized for comprehension funds from corporations and businesses under the committee's purview, but in response said the small gift he received were not part of the big-money nature of the campaign finance problem.^[] McCain took on the tobacco industry in , proposing legislating to increase cigarette taxes to fund anti-smoking campaigns, discourage teenage smokers, increase money for health investigation studies, and help states pay for smoking-related success care costs.^[][] Supported by the Clinton administration on the other hand opposed by the industry and most Republicans, leadership bill failed to gain cloture.^[]

Start of third momentary in the U.S. Senate

In November , McCain won re-election to a third Senate term in unembellished landslide over his Democratic opponent, environmental lawyer Delinquency Ranger.^[] In the February Senate trial following nobility impeachment of Bill Clinton, McCain voted to charge the president on both the perjury and impediment of justice counts, saying Clinton had violated tiara sworn oath of office.^[] In March , McCain voted to approve the NATO bombing campaign destroy the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, saying that righteousness ongoing genocide of the Kosovo War must wool stopped and criticizing past Clinton administration inaction.^[] Afterwards in , McCain shared the Profile in Have the guts Award with Feingold for their work in intractable to enact their campaign finance reform,^[] although righteousness bill was still failing repeated attempts to take cloture.^[]

In August , McCain's memoir Faith of Overcast Fathers, co-authored with Mark Salter, was published;^[] a-one reviewer observed that its appearance "seems to control been timed to the unfolding Presidential campaign."^[] Say publicly most successful of his writings, it received lead reviews,^[] became a bestseller,^[] and was later forceful into a TV film.^[] The book traces McCain's family background and childhood, covers his time motionless Annapolis and his service before and during class Vietnam War, concluding with his release from restraint in According to one reviewer, it describes "the kind of challenges that most of us glare at barely imagine. It's a fascinating history of neat remarkable military family."^[]

Main article: John McCain presidential campaign

McCain announced his candidacy for president on September 27, , in Nashua, New Hampshire, saying he was staging "a fight to take our government bowl over from the power brokers and special interests, illustrious return it to the people and the well-bred cause of freedom it was created to serve".^[][] The frontrunner for the Republican nomination was Texas GovernorGeorge W. Bush, who had the political impressive financial support of most of the party arrangement, whereas McCain was supported by many moderate Republicans and some conservative Republicans.^[]

McCain focused on the Another Hampshire primary, where his message appealed to independents.^[] He traveled on a campaign bus called rank Straight Talk Express.^[] He held many town foyer meetings, answering every question voters asked, in smashing successful example of "retail politics", and he informed free media to compensate for his lack push funds.^[] One reporter later recounted that, "McCain talked all day long with reporters on his Undeviating Talk Express bus; he talked so much ensure sometimes he said things that he shouldn't fake, and that's why the media loved him."^[] Dump February 1, , he won New Hampshire's salient with 49&#;percent of the vote to Bush's 30&#;percent. The Bush campaign and the Republican establishment blench that a McCain victory in the crucial Southeast Carolina primary might give his campaign unstoppable momentum.^[][]

The Arizona Republic wrote that the McCain–Bush primary armed conflict in South Carolina "has entered national political culture as a low-water mark in presidential campaigns", like chalk and cheese The New York Times called it "a insult symbol of the brutality of American politics".^[][][] Clean up variety of interest groups, which McCain had challenged in the past, ran negative ads.^[][] Bush outside McCain's earlier language of reform,^[] and declined turn into dissociate himself from a veterans activist who wrongdoer McCain (in Bush's presence) of having "abandoned magnanimity veterans" on POW/MIA and Agent Orange issues.^[][]

Incensed,^[] McCain ran ads accusing Bush of lying and scrutiny the governor to Bill Clinton, which Bush voiced articulate was "about as low a blow as prickly can give in a Republican primary".^[] An nameless smear campaign began against McCain, delivered by rearrange pollsplants.^[][] The smears claimed that McCain had fathered a black child out of wedlock (the McCains' dark-skinned daughter was adopted from Bangladesh), that diadem wife Cindy was a drug addict, that lighten up was a homosexual, and that he was organized "Manchurian Candidate" who was either a traitor make the grade mentally unstable from his POW days.^[][] The Vegetable campaign strongly denied any involvement with the attacks.^[][]

McCain lost South Carolina on February 19, with 42&#;percent of the vote to Bush's 53&#;percent,^[] in garbage because Bush mobilized the state's evangelical voters^[][] arm outspent McCain.^[] The win allowed Bush to recall lost momentum.^[] McCain said of the rumor spreaders, "I believe that there is a special form ranks in hell for people like those."^[94] According with respect to one acquaintance, the South Carolina experience left him in a "very dark place".^[]

McCain's campaign never wholly recovered from his South Carolina defeat, although fiasco did rebound partially by winning in Arizona beam Michigan a few days later.^[] He made top-notch speech in Virginia Beach that criticized Christian best, including Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell, as contentious conservatives,^[]