A snaphot of John McCain

Sen. John McCain of Arizona formally announced his candidacy for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination Wednesday:

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INTERESTING NOTE: He traces his ancestry back to Highland Scots of the Clan McDonald.

DETAIL YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW: His favorite movie is "Viva Zapata" and his favorite TV show is "24."

CAREER NOTE: He frequently invokes Theodore Roosevelt, whom he admires for combining conservative politics with reform.

CHALLENGE: No Arizonan has ever been elected president, even though the state has fielded several prominent candidates, including Barry Goldwater, Mo Udall, Bruce Babbitt and McCain in 2000.

PERSONAL: As a child, he would hold his breath until he blacked out to get his way.

TOUGH ISSUE: His outspoken support for a troop increase in Iraq and for continuing the war puts him at odds with the majority of voters.