In the spotlight: John Sidney McCain III

He has taken a very hard line on Russian politics over the years, and his rhetoric on the Russia-Georgia conflict shows that time has not softened his stance.

In response to Russia's actions in Georgia, McCain said that Russian President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin must "understand the severe, long-term negative consequences that their government's actions will have for Russia's relationship with the U.S. and Europe."

McCain has also famously commented, "When I looked into Mr. Putin's eyes, I saw three letters: a K, a G and a B," drawing a deliberate contrast to President Bush's statement that he'd seen a "very straight forward and trustworthy" man in Putin's eyes.

In his senatorial career, McCain is best known for helping to restore diplomatic relations with Vietnam in the 1990s, as well as his fight to stop pork barrel spending.

John McCain was born August 29, 1936 to naval officer John S. McCain, Jr. and Roberta McCain née Wright. Both his father and paternal grandfather served in the navy as four-star admirals.

He graduated from the US Naval Academy in June, 1958, and later served as a pilot in Vietnam. During his 23rd mission in Vietnam, McCain's plane was hit by a missile, forcing him to eject. He spent five-and-a-half years as a prisoner of war and was released in 1973.

McCain left the Navy in 1981 after four years spent working as the Navy's liaison to the US Senate. In 1982, he was elected to the US House of Representatives and, in 1986, to the Senate.

McCain has been married to his second wife, Cindy Lou Hensley McCain, for 28 years. He has three children (two adopted) from his first marriage and four (one adopted) from his second marriage.

Roberto Galea