The path to his success
Sept. 27, 1999: John McCain announces he will run for president.
March 9, 2000: Folds campaign, offers George W. Bush "best wishes" but no endorsement after a bitter defeat in South Carolina, where McCain was assailed in negative telephone calls.
Nov. 16, 2006: Files paperwork to form a presidential exploratory committee, calling on the GOP to return to common-sense conservatism.
April 1, 2007: Leads a Republican congressional delegation on a heavily guarded tour of a central Baghdad market and declares that a nearly seven-week-old security crackdown to pacify the Iraqi capital is working.
April 11, 2007: McCain's troubled presidential campaign eliminates some non-senior staff positions and cuts some consultants' contracts, all before he makes his bid official.
April 25, 2007: Formally launches campaign, which is already showing signs of trouble with lagging poll standings and poor fund-raising.
May 22, 2007: In Houston, McCain challenges other Republican presidential candidates to propose their own immigration legislation or stop criticizing the plan he's co-sponsoring.
June 25, 2007: McCain dismisses polls that show him slipping into single digits, arguing his campaign is going through the typical ups and downs.
July 2, 2007: McCain reorganizes campaign, cutting staff in every department, after reporting an abysmal $2 million cash on hand. McCain calls speculation that he could drop out of the race "ridiculous."
July 4, 2007: Makes sixth visit to Iraq, comes away with new resolve to press forward with presidential campaign.
July 10, 2007: Campaign manager Terry Nelson and chief strategist John Weaver resign. At least three other senior aides follow. In an e-mail to supporters, McCain vows to press on.
July 15, 2007: Campaign reports spending more than it raised from April through June, leaving McCain financially strapped with $3.2 million cash on hand and a $1.8 million debt.
Aug. 31, 2007: McCain announces plan for a September "No Surrender" tour to sell support for the war in the Iraq - and his weakened campaign.
Sept. 10, 2007: Ryan Crocker, US ambassador to Iraq, strongly suggests at a congressional hearing that the Bush administration's troop buildup in Iraq has prevented a debacle.
Oct. 4, 2007: McCain, fighting to get back with the Republican front-runners, raises $6 million in three months and reports $3.6 million cash on hand.
Jan. 8, 2008: McCain wins New Hampshire primary after losing the Iowa caucus.
Jan. 19, 2008: McCain wins in South Carolina.
Jan. 29, 2008: McCain wins Florida primary.
Jan. 30, 2008: Rudy Giuliani drops out of race, endorses McCain, a longtime friend.
Feb. 7, 2008: Mitt Romney, McCain's top rival, suspends his campaign.
Feb. 20, 2008: McCain says he "will not allow a smear campaign" to distract from his campaign as published reports question his ties to a lobbyist and imply a romantic relationship with her that he denies.
Yesterday: McCain clinches the Republican presidential nomination.
SOURCE: Associated Press 