Lifestyles of the 2008 Presidential Candidates
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How Our Potential
Presidents Live in Real Life
As the presidential candidates tour the country trying to inform Americans about their political beliefs and policy agendas, we take a look at how these public figures lead their private lives.
Click through our gallery as we round up information from the Associated Press 'personal sides' series, Web sites, like Votesmart.org, and writers, like freelance author Jonathan Berr, to take a peek at the White House hopefuls' homes, cars, families, churches, hobbies and more.
· Read Article by Jonathan Berr
First Up: Their Homes -
Robert Reck
John McCain, Republican
According to Architectural Digest, Senator John McCain and his wife, Cindy, live with their family in a southwestern-style residence in Phoenix. "My husband's favorite part about the house is probably the casual style of it," remarks Cindy McCain. "The feel is very comfortable, and he enjoys that, because he’s not a formal person." The piano in the entrance hall (pictured left, bottom) is from the Hassayampa Inn in Prescott, Arizona.
Next: More McCain Homes -
Tim Sloan, AFP/Getty Images
More McCain Residences
Two more McCain residences include this 6,500-square-foot, glass-walled condo with three terraces. It is in a recently built high-rise called 2211 Camelback. (top photo)
During the work week when McCain is in the nation's capital he resides in this three-bedroom, 2.5-bath condo of 2,100 square feet in the Crystal Gateway complex near Reagan National Airport.(bottom photo)
Next: Obama's Home -
Jerry Lai, AP
Barack Obama, Democrat
Obama has a large, stately brick home on Chicago's South Side with an estimated value of $1.9 million. The Chicago Tribune describes it as a "96-year-old Georgian revival home that has four fireplaces, glass-door bookcases fashioned from Honduran mahogany, and a 1,000-bottle wine cellar."
Next: McCain's Car -
General Motors
What McCain Drives
John McCain drives the popular Cadillac CTS.
In a Washington Post article from 2004, Mark Leibovich says, "John McCain drives like he lives: with conviction, impatience and a willingness to cross dividing lines."
Next: Obama's Cars -
Ford / Daimler Chrysler
What Obama Drives
Obama drives a Ford Escape hybrid and the Chrysler 300C.
In May 2007, CarandDriver.com criticized Obama, saying: "(Obama) comes to Detroit and blasts automakers about the need to build more-fuel-efficient cars and then drives off in his personal Chrysler 300C?"
Next: Obama's Favorite Quote -
Obama's Favorite Quote
"The Arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice." Martin Luther King.
Next: McCain's Family -
McCain's Family
McCain comes from a military family where both his father and grandfather were U.S. Navy admirals. He has been married twice. His current wife Cindy is 17 years his junior. McCain has seven children including a 15-year-old adopted daughter from Bangladesh.
Next: Obama's Family -
AP
Obama's Family
Obama and his wife Michelle have daughters Malia (9) and Sasha (6).
Next: Astrological Signs -
Their Astrological Signs
John McCain: Virgo
Barack Obama: Leo
(Source: Votesmart.org)
Next: McCain's Hobbies -
McCain's Hobbies
According to votesmart.org, McCain enjoys sports, hiking, fishing, boxing, basketball, football, baseball, history and spending time as a barbecue grill chef.
Next: Obama's Hobbies -
Obama's Hobbies
In his spare time, Obama enjoys basketball, writing and loafing with his kids.
Next: Their First Jobs -
Their First Jobs
John McCain: Naval Aviator, U.S. Navy
Barack Obama: Community organizer with a church-based group seeking to improve living conditions in poor neighborhoods
(Source: Votesmart.org, U.S. News & World Report, Barackobama.com)
Next: McCain's Church -
North Phoenix Baptist Church
McCain's Church
According to an article in the Associated Baptist Press, "John McCain has a deep and personal Christian commitment despite his reluctance to speak publicly about it, according to the man McCain calls his pastor. Dan Yeary, pastor of North Phoenix Baptist Church, described the Arizona senator and his wife, Cindy, as 'very unobtrusive' people who don't seek special attention when they are able to come to worship. McCain, a lifelong Episcopalian, has been attending the Southern Baptist-affiliated church in Phoenix for at least 17 years. But the presumptive GOP presidential nominee has neither officially joined the congregation nor been baptized."
Next: Obama's Church -
Obama's Church
On Saturday, May 31, Barack Obama resigned from the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. The resignation came days after a visiting Catholic priest mocked Hillary Clinton there, and after his minister of about 20 years, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, drew unwanted attention as videos of his fiery and controversial sermons surfaced.
Next: Personal Hereos -
Their Personal Hereos
John McCain: Theodore Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, Barry Goldwater
Barack Obama: Martin Luther King Jr., Mohandas Gandhi, Pablo Picasso, and John Coltrane
(Source: Votesmart.org)
Next: McCain's Youth -
Time Life Pictures / Getty Images
McCain's Childhood
The son and grandson of distinguished Navy admirals, John McCain was born in Panama in 1936. At that time, the Panama Canal was under American control and his father was stationed there. In 1951, the family settled in Northern Virginia, and McCain attended Episcopal High School, a private preparatory boarding school in Alexandria. In high school, he excelled at wrestling. When asked his best and worst grades or subjects at school, he has said, "I never got good grades."
Next: Obama's Youth -
Obama's Childhood
Barack Obama was born in Hawaii on August 4, 1961. His father was an economist from Kenya and his mother was an anthropologist from Kansas. In a third-grade essay Obama said he wanted to become president. The Illinois senator, graduated from Harvard Law where he was the first African-American editor of the Harvard Law Review.
(Source: NYTimes.com, ChicagoTribune.com)
Next: Favorite TV Shows -
Getty Images
Their Favorite TV Shows
John McCain: '24,' 'Seinfeld'
Barack Obama: 'SportsCenter,' C-SPAN
(Source: Votesmart.org)
Next: Favorite Books -
Amazon
Their Favorite Books
John McCain: 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' (Photo courtesy of Amazon.com)
Barack Obama: 'The Autobiography of Malcolm X'; 'Song of Solomon' by Toni Morrison; 'Moby Dick'; Shakespeare's tragedies; 'Parting the Waters'; 'Gilead' by Robinson; 'Self-Reliance' by Emerson; The Bible, Lincoln's collected writings
(Source: Votesmart.org)
Next: Favorite Food -
Their Favorite Food
John McCain: Chocolate ice cream, pizza with pepperoni and onions, baby-back ribs
Barack Obama: (to cook) Chili
(Source: Votesmart.org, Slate.com)
Next: Favorite Movies -
AP
Their Favorite Movies
John McCain: 'Viva Zapata,' 'Letters From Iwo Jima,' 'Some Like It Hot'
Barack Obama: 'Casablanca,' 'Godfather I and II,' 'Lawrence of Arabia,' 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'
(Source: Votesmart.org)
Next: Favorite Musicians -
AP
Their Favorite Musicians
John McCain: Chuck Berry, Roy Orbison
Barack Obama: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Johann Sebastian Bach (cello suites), and The Fugees
(Source: Votesmart.org, Facebook.com)
Next: Favorite Fitness Activity -
Their Favorite Fitness Activity
John McCain: Hiking
Barack Obama: Basketball
(Source: Associated Press )
Next: Latest Election News -
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Recent Comments
Skip8213 12:30:19 AM Sep 28 2008
"Where oh Where has John McCain gone?" Come to think of it, "Where oh Where has Palin gone?' Neither is no where in sight! I think John McCain is wishing he had never received the GOP nomination. I don't think he can keep up with the pace. If he were elected, which at this time seems impossible, he would last in office a mere year, at the most. What candidate would suspend his campagn 6 weeks before the election? I think his Cancer has come back. Mood swings and times of being quite. He won't let anyone near his medical record. It's under lock and key at his Dr. office. All things point toward's him being under the weather. I think the Financial Bailout in DC is just a excuse for him to get some much needed rest. Think about this~ He had a biopsy of the cancerous spot on the right side of his face several months ago. It's been enough time for the test results to come back. I had a family member that went through the same Cancer as McCain. He lasted 7 years and his Doct
Stersource 12:18:56 AM Sep 28 2008
obama had a major problem besides his usal stutters, stammers What is the name of the soldier on his bracelet? THINK THINK You f*** phony sob stooge for the left wing jer]ks!!!I had Col Robinson Risner on my bracelet Vietnam era never forgot that!!!
Russellkim1 11:37:57 PM Sep 27 2008
People, some think there were more poor then rich so the poor vote for the poor and the rich vote for the rich, will resolve on November. But there are some poor people vote for the rich and some stupid rich vote for the poor.
MsPonder55 11:24:47 PM Sep 27 2008
McCain go sit yourself down and let this Man Obama give us a Change, because thats what we all need and you people that are living in the past go join McCain.
Myirisheyes1964 11:17:47 PM Sep 27 2008
Osomaboma can't hold a candel to Mc Cain in the debate talk about blame game Osomabma acted like he was running against President Bush as many times as he brought his name up. And he kept agreeing with Mc Cain. Whats up with this guy he just one big liar. And a big phoney
Beh7881 11:17:43 PM Sep 27 2008
billmhccyou are right! they will! the electoral college does do it! it is that simple! sorry to say, but it is true! right on!
EK MADDOX 11:13:45 PM Sep 27 2008
McCain says I have traveled to many places at taxpayers expense, I shunned a good woman because she was not beautiful,. I flew 5 good airplanes into the ground. I capitulated to our enemy so I could gain better treatment. Palin says I can see russia from my state. I supported a bridge project to get my hands on the taxpayers money. I then stopped the bridge project and stole the taxpayers money for my friends. I have shot a moose. I have shot a bear. I have shot a caribou. So with all these credentials how can america not elect us?
EK MADDOX 11:09:12 PM Sep 27 2008
AngusSteak 09:41:55 PM Sep 27 2008 Report This! McCain's wife bought their home, NObama08's crooked, thieving friends bought his and gave it to him!And this makes being a gigalo better than a shrewd bargainer? Please explain.
GMSSRCHINA 11:08:36 PM Sep 27 2008
now i just hope obama win,so we can see how he ruin america,teach american peoplea a lesson,i can go back to canada,i dont care.
Delahos 10:42:20 PM Sep 27 2008
About the debate: I think that McCain should have stayed home like he planned to. McCain cannot be in the same room with Obama without playing the blame game. The whole time he accused Obama of saying and either doing or not doing things, but yet, Obama stood his ground and CLARIFIED McCain's obviously flawed misconceptions that McCain has used the entire campaign to try and scare the American people into believing that Obama is the wrong candidate. The problem is that McCain can SAY that he has more experience, but the fact is that McCain's record is skewed because he failed to make good decisions on issues when it could have made a difference. The only problem is that people do not want to give Obama a chance when it can make a difference and have already condemned him when he has not even became president yet!
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