World | USA
Profiles: 2008 US presidential contenders
Meet the contenders for the 2008 US Presidential race.
- Agencies
- Published: 09:00 February 5, 2008
- John McCain is a widely respected maverick US senator and war hero from Arizona.
- Image Credit: Gulf News Archive
Meet the contenders for the 2008 US Presidential race:
Barack Obama
Age: 46
New wave: Born in Hawaii to a Kenyan father and a White American mother. Obama is viewed as charismatic and inspirational yet short on experience. Appeals to younger, centre-left voters yearning for change and a bridging of political divisions. Won the endorsement of the brother and daughter of John F. Kennedy.
Promises "a new kind of politics" to solve problems of ordinary Americans. Was first black editor of Harvard Law Review, later a social worker in Chicago. Obama was Illionis senator for eight years but was only elected to US senate in 2004.
Says he always opposed Iraq war, caused a stir by saying he would talk with leaders of US foes such as Iran and North Korea.
John McCain
Age: 71
War hero: Widely respected maverick US senator and war hero from Arizona who ran for president in 2000 and is now leading national polls after wins in New Hampshire, South Carolina and Florida.
Was tortured as prisoner of war in Vietnam. Strongly backs Bush's "surge" strategy in Iraq.
At 72 on Inauguration Day, he would be the oldest president to take office. Top priority for him as president is winning the war against extremism.
Share this article
News Editor's choice
-
Shilpa Shetty ties knot with Kundra
Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty tied the knot with London-based businessman Raj Kundra
-
A weighty issue for Gulf News readers
Should we encourage pupils to slim down? Gulf News readers speak out
-
Work on world's longest sea crossing to begin in 2010
The proposed Qatar-Bahrain causeway project, tipped to be the world's longest sea crossing, is estimated at a cost of at $2.7 billion (Dh9.9 billion)
