What is McCain's weakness?

Answer 1

Iraq. McCain has long supported the controversial war and advocated a surge of U.S. troops long before President Bush did. Now he is linked to it, and his presidential fortunes could well depend on how things go in Baghdad.

• Age. A touchy topic but one that already has sparked national discussion. McCain is 70 and, if elected, would take office as the oldest U.S. president. Watch for McCain, always known as a hard worker, to mount an active and vigorous campaign to head off any criticism of his stamina. On the plus side for McCain, anybody who highlights his age risks alienating older Americans.

• Conservative skepticism. McCain actively courted centrist Republicans and Democrats and independents during his "maverick" 2000 campaign. He even dubbed top Religious Right leaders "agents of intolerance." As he tries to woo conservative primary voters this year, he will find that many don't trust him. McCain's continuing criticism of former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and his push for comprehensive Immigration reform keep the relationship tense.

• He's a senator. The United States has elected only two sitting U.S. senators to the presidency: Warren Harding in 1920 and John F. Kennedy in 1960. One big reason is that senators usually have long records of votes that foes can pick apart and exploit. Ask John Kerry. And McCain's Capitol Hill voting record goes back more than 20 years.

• Temperament. McCain acknowledges he has a temper but maintains critics have "exaggerated it far beyond reality." Still, his temperament came under scrutiny in 2000, and political opponents likely will try to use his reputation against him in 2008.