John "Rocky" McCain

In the News: McCain and Romney have begun some serious campaign jabs as the competition heats up before the big Florida primaries; the Senator has been criticizing the former Mass. Governor about his Iraq record and "flip-flopping" on issues, while Romney also claims that McCain has been reshuffling his positions, and is being "untruthful" about Romney's record. Meanwhile, Florida internet searches for "John McCain" have increased by an impressive 50% since this time last month, while searches for McCain's other rival, Guliani, are down 60%.

Endorsements: This weekend, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty will be hitting the Florida campaign trail for the Senator. Meanwhile, Fred Thompson's former finance chairman, Scooter Clippard, has signed on with the McCain campaign, with Thompson's supporters still up for grabs. This past week McCain picked up the support of the Philadelphia Enquirer and the New York Times, as well as that of the Latin Builder's Association in Miami, and Senator Mel Martinez of Florida (which is unfortunate for Guliani, who had been heavily courting the Cuban-American vote). Also, Sylvester Stallone, best known for his role as "Rocky Balboa," has announced his support of the Senator: WHAT NOW CHUCK NORRIS?!?!

McCain Picking Up Speed?

Although our favorite Republican candidate, John McCain, did not win the Michigan primary, losing it to Mitt Romney, he is picking up speed. Winning the South Carolina primary, McCain is looking to be a much stronger candidate than he had been looked at being in the past few months. With this win, it seems that Romney and McCain are pushing the early winner, Huckabee, out of his position, leaving him in the dust. McCain, though, has also lost Michigan to Romney, who's personal history in the state gave him a great advantage over the other Republican candidates. Romney's position in the race perhaps has stuttered a bit, as he took only fourth in the South Carolina primary, far behind the lead.
Interestingly enough, though, the actor seen in the back of all the recent news footage of the election campaign trails, the internet-famous Chuck Norris, has been stirring up trouble with McCain. Attacking McCain for his age, saying that he is not young enough to serve as president, Norris has been struck back at by McCain. As the campaign continues, we'll see how McCain, who is currently polling first in Florida, a state chock full of retired persons, will pull through.

Post-New Hamphire, Pre-Michigan

In the News: Now that the New Hampshire primary is over, with McCain coming out on top, McCain and Romney are heatedly discussing how to bolster the Michigan economy, both attempting to outshine their opponent before the Michigan primary begins. On Wednesday, McCain will be visiting York County for a town hall meeting. Also, McCain will be speaking at the Burnham Brook Community Center, Michigan in order to try to boost his chances of winning the primary. There is a question whether the assassination of Bhutto has raised the number of people who will vote for McCain. The theory is that because he has the most experience in foreign policy and national defense. Because South Carolina is home to many war veterans, McCain, a war hero, is counting on that primary to boost his presidential campaign. Also, in a gym at Clawson High School, McCain tells the crowd that the USA is winning the war in Iraq, and simply needs more time. McCain has, along with Environmental Defense, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Pew Center on Climate Change, supported a tax increase on energy.

Endorsements: South Carolina’s largest newspaper, The State, endorsed McCain, choosing him above the inexperienced Huckabee.

In the Polls: Romney is currently leading McCain in the polls leading up to the Michigan primary, while Huckabee is in third.

Post-Caucus Evaluation: The McCain Surge

Iowa: Despite coming in fourth place at the "ballot" boxes, McCain's overall chances are looking up; Romney's lackluster performance, coupled with Huckabee's semi-"Iowan surprise," make the Senator look more presidential by the minute.
Not Iowa: In Michigan, he was recently endorsed by the Detroit News, and New Hampshire, he recently beat out former frontrunner Romney in the polls. There is also some speculation that, of all the GOP hopefuls, McCain would attract the most Independents at the ballot box, a very significant (if not the most significant) voting pool.

McCain Pre-Iowa

In this pre-Iowa Caucus period of political uncertainty, John McCain has been active, like every other candidate, in rallying support for the upcoming event in attempt to "pick up speed" politically.
Although McCain had been polled ahead by certain sources in the Iowa Caucus, it is not yet clear whether he has secured a victory in the first primary/caucus event for this Presidential election. With Huckabee and Romney hanging around, McCain took a last minute trip to Iowa, on the day before the caucus itself, in order to rally some last minute support. Importantly, though, McCain has been polling well in New Hampshire, as well, a sign that hopefully (for him) he will be able to pick up speed and get the ball rolling on his campaign.