Battle-scarred former prisoner of war John McCain is an indisputable American hero and hopes his national security credentials, Senate experience and confident leadership abilities will take him to the Oval Office.
The 71-year-old Arizona senator is seen as a temper-prone, old-school, Republican who staunchly supports the war in Iraq and believes the fight against terror will be central to the presidency.
His now unpopular views on issues such as Iraq and immigration led to many Republicans to grow weary but his decision to focus on New Hampshire as he makes his second bid to be the leader of the free world paid off overnight.
Last summer, after weeks of poor fund raising, significant staff departures, and falling poll numbers, Mr McCain told reporters: "I have faced a lot tougher times than this in my life. I am going to get out the bus and do the town halls and work 24/7. I am confident I will do well. This is a day at the beach compared to some days I have had in my life."
And this is undoubtedly true. He spent five-and-a-half years in a prisoner of war camp in Vietnam, refusing to be released until those captured before him were set free.
He was on his 23rd bombing mission on in 1967, when his plane was hit by a surface-to-air missile over Hanoi, north Vietnam. He ejected, was knocked unconscious and broke both arms and his right knee. Captured, he had his shoulder broken by a rifle butt and was bayoneted in the ankle and groin before it was revealed he was an admiral's son.
Nicknamed the "Crown Prince" by his captors, he received limited treatment for his injuries but was also tortured and beaten until he was near death on several occasions.
Today, he shuffles slightly, hold his arms stiffly unable to raise them arms above his head and often requires assistance with brushing his hair or donning a jacket - all as a result of his half-decade as a PoW.
On the issues, he believes taxes should be "low, simple, and fair", has put efforts to reduce global warming at the centre of his platform and has been a leading crusader against excessive government spending.
He is in favour of comprehensive immigration reform, with a path to legal status for undocumented workers, backs federal funding for stem cell research, is pro-life and supports the Second Amendment right to bear arms.
But he opposes gay marriages and is sceptical of a large federal role in education policy.
Born on August 29th, 1936, in Canal Zone, Panama, John Sidney McCain III was born into an illustrious military family. A hot-tempered child, he went to private school before enrolling at the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, where he has been described as an "unabashed troublemaker", for his untidy room, perceived over confidence and taste for partying.
He has married twice. First to Philadelphia model Carol Shepp in 1965 with whom he had two adopted sons and a daughter.
Following his long rehabilitation after his war experience he began engaging in infidelities and eventually divorced Carol a month before marrying Cindy Hensley - nearly 20 years his junior - in 1980. They have four children, Meghan, Jack, Jimmy and Bridget.
He retired from the navy the following year and moved to his wife's home state of Arizona, where he began his political career. After three years as an Arizona congressman, Mr McCain became a senator in 1987, where he directed his attention to defence and foreign policy.
But that year, he was the only Republican involved in a scandal involving senators aiding Arizona banking executive Charles Keating to keep federal regulators from taking action against him over his business practices.
The Senate ethics committee found Mr McCain broke no laws, but he acknowledged bad judgement in attending two meetings with regulators and Senate colleagues on Mr Keating's behalf.
Despite his age - he would be the oldest first term president if elected at 72 - Mr McCain's experience and broad appeal to Republicans, Democrats and independents could unite a country in its time of need and serve him well in his second White House bid.